Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



July 30, 1929. 5, YOUNG 1,7225364 RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed April 21, 1927 1&1

Permananz PPmanQnt Mayhet INVENTOR! H. '5. yo U117, Q- a-wuwae' 154.; an M.7

Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,722,364 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. YOUNG,. 0F

WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TRAFFIC-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 21,

My invention relates to railway traiiic controlling apparatus, and particularly toapparatus for controlling railway switches and the like from a remote point.

I will describe two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing a modified form of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 and also embodying my invention. I

Similar reference characters refer to sumlar parts in both views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates a railway switch which is actuated by an electric motor M which in the form here shown comprises an armature 1 and a. field 2. Operatively connected with the switch are two contacts 3 and 4; contact 3 is closed at all times except when the switch occupies its extreme reverse position, and contact 4 is closed at all times except when the switch occupies its extreme normal posit-ion.

The motor M is controlled in part by a circuit controller designated in general by the reference character P and which is in turn controlled by a pole changer L which may be incorporated in a switch lever of an interlock ing machine. The circuit controller P is controlled by the pole changer L over a pair of conductors 7 and 8 which are reversibly connected with a pair of line wires 5 and G, depending upon the position of the pole changer L. Current is constantly supplied to the line wires 5 and 6 from a suitable source of energy such as a generator G.

The circuit controller P comprises an electromagnet 9, made up of two windings 9 and 9", and a polarizing winding 10 which is preferably provided with a hard steel perman ently magnetized core 11. Pivotally attached to the core 11 is an armature 12 which is therefore polarized by flux from the permanent magnet core 11 at such times as winding 10 is not carrying current, as will be explained in detail hereinafter. It follows that when the electromagnet 9 is supplied with current of one polarity the armature 12 will be swung in a clockwise direction, but that when current of the opposite polarity is supplied to electromagnet 9 the armature will be swung in the 'gether so that current then flows from con- 19'27. Serial No. 185,441.

into the path of movement of a portion of armature 12 to prevent the reversal of the armature when the neutral magnet B is de-ener gized. The armature 17 also operates a contact finger 18 which is arranged to connect wire 27 with wire 28 when the neutral magnet B is energized. 'Pivotedly attached to the armature 17 is a link 19 provided with a slot 42which at times engages a pin 43 in a rocker arm 70 which carries a contact finger 20. When magnet B is de-energized the link 19 moves the rocker arm 70 against the bias exerted by spring 44 into a position in which the contact finger 20 connects wire 33 with wire 34. When neutral magnet B is energized, however, the spring 44 urges the rocker arm 70 into a position wherein the contact between wires 33 and 34 is interrupted. As shown in the drawing the switch A occupies its normal position; the neutral magnet B is de-energized thereby locking armature 12 of circuit controller P in its left-hand position; and the pole changer L on the switch lever occupies its normal position.

111 explaining the operation of the apparatus as a whole, I will assume that it is desired to move the switch to its reverse position. The pole changer L is first reversed,

and current then flows from generator G through line wire 5, pole changer L, conductor 7 wire 21, contact 15 operated by armature 12, wire 22, neutral magnet B, wire 23, polarizing winding 10, wire 24, asymmetric unit 16 and wires 25 and 26 back to line wire 6 and the other terminal of the generator G. Due to the current in this circuit the neutral magnet B is energized and the polarizing winding 10 is supplied with current to strongly polarize the armature 12 of the circuit controller P. The energization of neutral magnet B connects wires 27 and 28 toductor 7 through wire 27, contact finger 18 operated by neutral magnet B, wire 28, windmg 9 of electromagnet 9, wire 29, winding 9 and wire 30, toconductor 8. The polarity of the current supplied to the electromagnet 9 over the circuit just traced is such that the armature 12 is reversed, this motion of the armature now being possible because the neutral magnet B is energized to lift the lower end of armature 17 out of engagement with the armature 12. The reversal of armature 12 reverses contacts 13, 14 and 15 so that the circuit just traced for the neutral magnet B and the polarizing winding 10 is interrupted at contact 15. The consequent deenergization of magnet B opens contact 27-18'28 and deenergizes windings 9 and 9*. Furthermore the reversal of contacts13 and 14 completes a circuit for motor M which may be traced from generator G, through line wire 5, wire 33, contact finger 20, wire 34, circuit breaker R, wire 35, contact 1.4, wire 36, armature 1 of motor M, wire 37, contact 13, Wire 38, contact 3 operated by switch A, field 2 of motorM, and wires 39 and 26 back to generator G through line wire 6. The relative polarity of the currents supplied to the armature and fieldof motor M over the circuit just traced is such that the motor 0perates to move the switch A to its reverse position. When the switch has attained its full reverse position contact 3 opens, thereby interrupting the circuit and insuring that no energy will be consumed in maintaining the switch in the position into which it has been moved. In similar manner, it it is desired to return the switch to its original position, the pole changer L is restored to the position in which it is shown in the drawing. Current then flows from generator G, through line wire 5, pole changer L, conductor 8, wire 32, contact 15, wire 22, neutral magnet B, wire 23, polarizing winding 10,

wire 24, asymmetric unit 16, wires 25 and 26 and line wire 6 back to generator G. It will be noted that the direction of the current supplied under these conditions to the polarizing winding 10 is the same as the direction of the current supplied to this windlng during operation of the switch from normal to reverse. As a result of the current flowing in the circuit just traced the neutral magnet B is energized thereby releasing armature 12 and connecting wires 27 and 28 at contact finger 18.- Current then flows from conductor 8 through wire 30, winding 9", wire 29, winding 9", wire 28, contact 18 and wire 27, back to conductor 7. It will be apparent that when the circuit just traced is closed the electromagnet 9 is supplied with current of a polarity opposite from that which is suppl ed to the electrolnagnet for movement of the switch from normal to reverse positions. The armature 12 is therefore again reversed, returning the armature to the po- Sition in which it is shown in the drawing. As soon as this occurs the consequent reversal of contact 15 interrupts the circuit for tive side of the generator the polarizing winding 10 and the neutral breaker R, wires 35 and 40, contact 13, wire '37, armature 1 of motor M, wire 36, contact 14, wire 41, contact 4 operated by the switch A, field 2 of motor M and wires 39 and 26 and line wire 6, back to generator G. It will be observed that current supplied over the circuit just traced traverses the field 2 of the motor M in the same direction as before but that the direction of this current through the armature 1 is reversed. The motor therefore ope-rates to move the switch to its normal position. When the switch has attained its extreme normal position the contact 4 opens to disconnect the motor from its source of energy thereby restoring the apparatus to the condition in which it is illustrated in the drawing.

The circuit breaker R is of the usual and well known type and will be readily understood without further explanation. For present purposes it is sufiicient to state that when the current through the circuit breaker exceeds a safe value a detent 57 lifts the link 19 so that the pin 43 no longer engages the end of the slot 42 and the spring 44 opens the contact between wires 33 and 34.

Apparatus of the type described is customarily employed for the control of outlying switch movements where it may occur that other loads than the motor M are connected with the same source of energy G. Such other loads, such as the motors for other switches, would ordinarily be connected in parallel with the motor M, that is, across wires 33 and 26. Under these conditions should wire 26 become broken or should the resistance of this connection with the negabecome abnormally high it might happen that current would tend to flow through the polarizing winding 10 and the neutral magnet B back to the negative side of the generator over conductor 7 or 8 according as the switch occupies its normal or its reverse position. Current flowing in this manner would tend to de-magnetize the permanent magnet core of the winding 10 and would interfere with operation of the circuit controller P. This is a dangerous condition and in order to eliminate the possibility of such an occurrence I have interposed the asymmetric unit 16 between wire 26 and the polarizing winding 10. It will be observed that this unit is connected in such mannor that the unit readily conducts current in the direction in which current is normally supplied to the polarizing winding in series with the neutral magnet B, but that the unit 16 will effectively prevent the supply of any current to the polarizing winding 10 in the opposite direction. D

Referring now to Fig. 2 the circuits for the motor M are precisely'the same as'before, but the circuit controller P and the neutral magnet B are controlled exclusively b energy received from the two conductors and 8, so that it is impossible for current to be improperly supplied to the polarizmg w nding 10in such manner as to traverse the winding in a direction to de-magnetize the core 11 of this winding. In explaining the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 I will first assume that it is desirable to move the switch from the normal position in which it is shown in the drawing to its reverse position. In order to accom lish this result the pole changer L is reverse thereby supplying current from line wire 5 through the pole changer L, conductor 7, wire 48, asymmetric unit 44, wire 48, polarizing winding 10, wire 23, neutral magnet B, wire 22, contact 15, wire 21, asymmetric unit 47, wire 30, conductor 8, pole changer L and back to generator G over line wire 6. Current supplied over the circuit just traced energizes the neutral magnet and supplies a heavy polarizing flux to the core 11 of circuit controller P. The operation of contact finger 18 completes another circuit over which current flows from conductor 7, through wire 27, contact finger 18, wire 28, winding 9", wire 29, winding 9", and wire 70, back to conductor 8. Armature 12 of circuit controller P is therefore reversed, reversing contacts 13, 14 and 15. As a result, the neutral magnet B and polarizing winding 10 become de-energized. The opening of contact 27-1828 also de-energizes windings 9 and 9". Furthermore, the reversal of contacts 13 and 14 completes a circuit for motor M which results in movement of the switch A from its normal to its reverse position. The motor is disconnected at the end of the switch stroke b contact 3 in the same manner as explaine Fig. 1.

In similar manner if it is desired to restore the switch to its normal position the pole changer L is again moved to the position in which it is shown in the drawing. Current from conductor 8 then fiows through wire 30, asymmetric unit 45, wire 48, polarizing winding 10, wire 23, neutral magnet B, wire 22, contact 15, Wire 71, asymmetric unit 46 and wire 48, to conductor 7. It will be plain that though the relative polarity of the two conductors 7 and 8 has been reversed, current flows through the polarizing winding 10 and the neutral magnet B in the same direction as before due to the asymmetric units 44, 45,

46 and 47. It is therefore impossible for ourrent to flow through the polarized winding in such direction as to de-magnetize the core 11. Continuing now to trace the operation of the apparatus, when the neutral magnet B in connection with becomes energized, a circuit is closed for the electroma net 9 of circuit controller P, which circuit is rom conductor 8 through wire 70, winding 9", wire 29, winding 9, wire 28, contact 18, wire 27 to conductor 7. As a result of the current supplied to the electro-magnet 9 over this circuit the armature 12 of circuit controller P is reversed, thereby tie-energizing the neutral magnet B and completing a circuit for the motor M which causes the motor to move the switch from the reverse position to the normal position. When the switch has attained its full normal position the opening of contact 4 tie-energizes the motor and restores the apparatus to the condition in which it is shown in the drawing.

It will be plain from the foregoing that with apparatus embodying my invention, since current can flow in one direction only through the neutral magnet B and the polarizing winding 10 of the circuit controller P, it is impossible for current of the opposite clarity to energize either of these windings improperly and cause a false operation of the switch operating mechanism or de-magnetize the core of winding 10.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modification may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, an electromagnet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a

neutral magnet, means for preventing operation of said armature when the neutral magnet is de-energized, a pole-changer, means controlled by said polechanger and' by the armature for supplying current of one and the same polarity to the neutral magnet and the polarizing winding in series, regardless of the position of the pole-changer, and means controlled by the neutral magnet for supplying the electromagnet with current of one polarity or the other depending upon the position of the pole-changer.

2. In combination, an electromagnet,'a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a neutral magnet, means for preventing operation of the armature when the neutral mag net is de-energized, a pole-changer, means controlled by the pole-changerand by the armaturefor supplying current of a single polarity to the neutral magnet and the polarpolarity through such winding, and means controlled by the neutral magnet for supply ing the electromagnet with current 0 one polarity or the other depending upon the position of the pole-changer.

3. In combination, an electromagnet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a neutral magnet, means for preventing operation of the armature when the neutral magnct is de-energized, a source of current, a palr of conductors, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting the source with said conductors, means including an asymmetric unit for connecting one terminal of the polarizing winding with a terminal of thesource, means for connecting the other terminal of the polarizing winding with a terminal of the neutral magnet, means controlled by the armature for connecting the free terminal of the neutral magnet with one or the other of said conductors, and means controlled by the neutral magnet for connecting said electromagnet with the conductors.

4. In combination, an electromagnet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a pair of conductors connected with said electromagnet, a source of current, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting the source with said conductors, and means including a contact controlled by the armature and an asymmetric unit for supplying current of one and only one polarity to the polarizing winding from said source.

5. In combination, an electromganet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a source of current for supplying energy to the electromagnet, a pole-changer interposed between the'electromagnet and the source, and a-circuit for the polarizing windings controlled by the pole-changer and by the armature and including an asymmetric unit.

6. In combination, an electromagnet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a source of current, a pair of conductors at times connected with said polarizing winding and with said electromagnet,'a pole-changer for reversibly connecting the source with said conductors, and asymmetric means interposed between the conductors and the polarizing winding for preventing the flow of current through such winding in one direction.

7. In combination, an electromagnet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance With the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a neutral magnet, means for preventing operation of the armature when the neutral magnet is de-energized, a source of current, a pair of conductors, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting the source with said conductors, two oppositely disposed asymmetric units a connected in series across said conductors,

means for connecting the common terminals of such units with one terminal of the polarizing winding, means for connecting the other terminal of the polarizing winding with a terminal of the neutral magnet, means controlled by the armature for connecting the free terminal of the neutral magnet with one or the other of said conductors, and means controlled by the neutral magnet for connecting said electromagnet with the conductors.

8. In combination, an electromagnet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a pair of conductors at times connected with said electromagnet, a source of current, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting the source with said conductors, a first asymmetric unit connecting one said conductor with one terminal of the polarizing winding, a second oppositely disposed asymmetric unit connecting the other conductor with said one terminal of the polarized winding, and means controlled by the armatu re for connecting the remaining terminal of the polarizing winding with one or the other of the conductors. i

9. In combination, an electromagnet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a pair. of conductors at times connected with said electromagnet, a source of current, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting the source with said conductors, and means including a contact controlled by the armature and at least one asymmetric unit for connecting the polarizing winding with the conductors to permit the flow of current through the winding in one direction only.

10. In combination, an electromagnet, a polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of the electromagnet and the polarizing winding, a pair of conductors at times connected with said electromagnet, a source of current, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting the source with said conductors, two oppositely disposed asymmetric units connected in series across the conductors and having their common terminal connected with one terminal of the polarizing winding, and means for connecting the free terminal of the polarizing winding with one of the conductors through a third asymmetric unit or with the other conductor through a fourth asymmetric unit according to the position of said armature.

'11. In combination, an electromagnet, a

polarizing winding, an armature controlled in accordance with the relative polarity of changer and a first and a second asymmetric the polarizing winding and the electromagunit, and a second circuit for the polarizing net, a source of current, a pole-changer, a. winding controlled by the armature and in- 10 circuit for the electromagnet including the cluding the source, the pole-changer, and a 5 source and the pole-changer; a first circuit third and a fourth asymmetric unit.

for the polarizing winding controlled by the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. armature and including the source, the pole- HENRY'S. YOUNG. 

